Anglian Water pipeline from Bury St Edmunds to Colchester gets green light from Mid Suffolk District Council

Plans for a major multi-million pound water pipeline have taken a step forward as further permissions have been granted.

Mid Suffolk District Council has approved Anglian Water’s plans for a 68km pipeline from Bury St Edmunds to Colchester which will improve water availability for Suffolk residents.

The water main network will stretch more than 300 kilometres from North Lincolnshire, through Cambridge, to Suffolk and Essex and will bring water from the north to the south and east of England.

As part of the project, there will be new above-ground assets in Little Saxham, Little Whelnetham, Rushbrooke, Nedging Tye, Hadleigh, Raydon, Wherstead and Great Horkeshey.

A spokesperson for Anglian Water said: “We have purposely made sure that about 90 per cent of the work will be going through farmland and agricultural land rather than through roads and this is to minimise any disruption for residents.

“People shouldn’t really notice any difference when the works take place.

“We haven’t seen anything on this type of utility infrastructure at this scale since the gas lines were put in during the 70s - and it is very, very needed.”

Without this new drinking water network, Anglian Water has said the East of England could run out of water as soon as 2030.​

The plans were originally submitted in December 2022 and West Suffolk Council gave permission to the proposal on Monday, September 18, 2023.

The network has been designed to have the lowest carbon footprint possible in line with the water company’s pledge to reach net zero carbon by 2030.

Anglian Water was expecting to begin the works this year - however a final green light is needed from Colchester Borough Council before works can begin.

Rob Slade, head of strategic supply integration at Anglian Water, said: “The scale and investment of our work is matched only by its importance.

“We’ve spent many years developing, and now implementing, these vital plans to combat water shortages and increase resilience across the region.

“Simply put, without our water main network, demand for water in the region could outstrip supply as soon as 2030.

“The importance of the work cannot be underestimated - Anglian Water's region is the driest in the UK and has a rapidly-growing population.”